Bar none … the single most difficult championship to win in North American Professional Sports.
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Seed |
Team |
Series Line |
Win Conf. Line |
Win Cup Line |
What to Watch For |
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Eastern Conference Match-ups |
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|
8 |
Boston Bruins |
+279 |
+2020 (#8) |
+4242 (#15) |
When these two old rivals meet in the Spring … it’s almost a given which one is going to advance. Another rookie goalie for Montreal. Could it be … |
|
1 |
Montreal Canadiens |
-309 |
+294 (#2) |
+811 (#3) |
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5 |
New York Rangers |
-119 |
+827 (#4) |
+1419 (#6) |
The Blue-shirts are the fashionable pick to make some noise this year. Always a war when these two meet. Brodeur vs Lundqvist should be a dousy |
|
4 |
New Jersey Devils |
+109 |
+791 (#3) |
+1655 (#8) |
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7 |
Ottawa Senators |
+233 |
+853 (#6) |
+1892 (#9) |
Fleury & Conklin are still big question marks for the Pens but, with no Alfredsson & Fisher, the Sens are going to struggle to score. |
|
2 |
Pittsburgh Penguins |
-253 |
+265 (#1) |
+836 (#1) |
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6 |
Philadelphia Flyers |
+130 |
+1107 (#7) |
+2786 (#13) |
The Caps have their mojo going big-time, right now, led by Ovechkin, Federov. & Huet. Flyers have been going in reverse since the All-star game. |
|
3 |
Washington Capitals |
-140 |
+834 (#5) |
+1471 (#7) |
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Western Conference Match-ups |
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|
8 |
Nashville Predators |
+444 |
+3525 (#8) |
+6060 (#16) |
Red Wings at the head of the class, again. Will go as far as Hasek can take them. Preds just happy to still be playing games in April. |
|
1 |
Detroit Red Wings |
–484 |
+164 (#1) |
+368 (#1) |
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5 |
Dallas Stars |
+178 |
+1416 (#6) |
+2199 (#11) |
Stars could give the Ducks a tussle in the early going. Anaheim played possum for much of the year. Ducks ‘Defensive Corps’ is the league’s best. |
|
4 |
Anaheim Ducks |
-191 |
+478 (#3) |
+817 (#4) |
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7 |
Calgary Flames |
+260 |
+1621 (#7) |
+2800 (#14) |
Echoes of past playoff failures very real for the Sharks vs a tough veteran crew that’s played this tune before. Kiprusoff vs Nabokov will decide it. |
|
2 |
San Jose Sharks |
-280 |
+333 (#2) |
+481 (#2) |
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6 |
Colorado Avalanche |
-101 |
+1177 (#4) |
+2222 (#12) |
A rock-em sock’em defensive affair that should see a series of one-goal decisions, either way. Will be decided by Penalty Kills & Power Plays. |
|
3 |
Minnesota Wild |
-109 |
+1239 (#5) |
+2055 (#10) |
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